I•C•E// r.s.l.❣

1.4

It's been tough. I was given literally 4 days to rest after I got out of the hospital and from then on, it's been gym, dance and bed.

However, the exercise payed off. My scar was a tiny hole on my growing four-pack, and along with that, I was toned and 'hench'. But it was the hardest I ever worked, and I'm proud of myself.

It all lead up to today. The final day- recruitment tests. To be honest, I wasn't scared (or trying to psych myself out), I genuinely just wanted to get it over and done with. But I couldn't help but stop and freak out occasionally. My test was the last of the night, so I had time to teach my class.

"Athena, are you okay?" One of my girls walked up to me. "You're shaking."

"I'm just slightly nervous for later today." I forced a smile. "But shall we go over it-"

"Carmichael!" Ross suddenly walked in. "A parcel arrived for you."

"Um, me?" I watched as he brought in a box. It looked fairly harmless until I saw the log on it. "Girls, the class finishes early today, go get ready for your tests."

They followed on out, and I closed the door after them. "It's from I.C.E., it's their badge."

"What could it be?" Ross asked me, sitting beside it.

"Anything." I reached for the lid, which slipped off fairly easily. The box contained a wreath, made up of pretty tulips and pink roses- two of my favourites. I looked at Ross and he shrugged. However, one (obviously fake) rose stood out from the rest. I picked it out, realising it had a note attached to it.

'How do you like these? I think they would look amazing; on your grave that is.

You're not safe in F.A.S.T.'

I instantly dropped the rose, breaking into hysterical screams. I was about to leave, when Ross grabbed me. "Wha-what's going on?"

"Someone in here is watching me. Someone in F.A.S.T." I forced out. He frowned, and paused to think.

"Listen. Okay, someone is watching you, but you can't let that get to you, especially not today; it's probably bogus and they are trying to psych you out. Plus, I'm around you majority of the time so, they will have to get past me and I can be stubborn when I want to be."

I chuckled at his words, and pulled him into a hug. "You can be very comforting when you want to."

"Thank you." He stopped for a beat. "What's stopping us?"

"What?"

"You know what I mean. What's stopping us; you virtually have the test nailed so, what is it?"

"This, is stopping us. If I.C.E. comes for me, they will come for you and I wouldn't be able to live knowing you died because of me because that is what they will do- kill the person I love the most to get to me." I sighed. "I don't want to hurt you anymore, either, if they kill me."

His hands moved from my waist to my face. "Would it really kill you if we kissed?"

I remained completely motionless; a trend that I picked up is that this happens when we get this close to one another. And for once, I don't feel the need to push him away.

I allowed him to pull me closer to him, seconds before his lips were on mine. Then, it all hit me at once, and I realised, he wasn't just my friend, or lover or whatever.

He was a part of me. A part that I wasn't ready to give up- or push away.

I did however take a step back, gasping for air. "Sorry."

He was laughing. "It's fine, and see, you're alive."

"Barely."

"Come on now. You need to get ready for your test." He lead me to the door.

+++

This is as frightening as it gets.

The room in which I would be put to sleep was crammed with 5 governors, 3 monitors, my friends and David. I was sat on the table in which I would be laid on after ingesting the dark blue liquid from before.

A governor looked at me. "You're allowed one person in the test with you. They can guide you, but not help you."

I looked at the people willing to help me. As I couldn't talk, I stood up and walked to Ross, grabbing his hand and pulling him forward. He smiled at me, proceeding to getting me all wired up to the monitors, who currently displayed my pulse, breaths and what actually was happening in my head.

I laid down, and Ross did too, but we laid opposite to one another. He mouthed a good luck wish to me as I drank from the vial and then he did the same. We both laid back.

Here goes nothing.